Your 2018 guide to outdoor movies in San Diego this summer
Bring your favorite blanket or lawn chair and have a picnic under the stars with Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts as the outdoor summer movie season gets under way throughout San Diego County. Free and low-cost screenings of G- to R-rated films are screening at parks, on patios and poolside. Here’s a look at some of the local lineups.
Athenaeum’s Flicks on the Bricks
Starting its 12th year, this popular outdoor film series returns screening films noir with a San Diego connection. Movies begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Refreshments will be available for purchase. 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers; series tickets are also available. For ages 21 and older. ljathenaeum.org
Aug. 2: Noir double bill: “Devil Thumbs a Ride” and “The Clay Pigeon”
Aug. 9: “Tension”
Aug. 16: “The Brothers Rico”
Aug. 23: “The Grifters”
Cinema Under the Stars
Watch a mixture of film selections in the comfort of a recliner, love-seat cabana or deck chair at this intimate outdoor venue. 4040 Goldfinch St., Mission Hills. Films screen Thursdays-Sundays at 8 p.m. through October. $17 for members; $18 at the door; $20 online. Purchase beverages, popcorn and candy at $2 per item. For a complete movie schedule, visit topspresents.com
June 8: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”
June 9-10: “Spellbound”
June 14-17: “The Big Lebowski”
June 21-22: “The Big Sheep”
June 23-24: “Shakespeare in Love”
June 28-July 1: “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
July 5-6: “Sunset Boulevard”
July 7-8: “Sixteen Candles”
July 12-13: “Vicky Christina Barcelona”
July 14-15: “Sabrina”
July 19-20: “The Lady From Shanghai”
July 21-22: “Steel Magnolias”
July 26-27: “Shadow of a Doubt”
July 28-29: “Top Gun”
Aug. 2-3: “The Thomas Crown Affair”
Aug. 4-5: “Some Like It Hot”
Aug. 9-10: “Double Indemnity”
Aug. 11-12: “When Harry Met Sally”
Aug. 16-17: “Bonnie and Clyde”
Aug. 18-19: “The African Queen”
Aug. 23-24: “A Hard Day’s Night”
Aug. 25-26: “To Catch a Thief”
Aug. 30-Sept. 2: “The Princess Bride”
Sept. 6-8: “Casablanca”
Aug. 13-15: “Blazing Saddles”
Sept. 20-22: “Roman Holiday”
Sept. 27-29: “Rear Window”
Oct. 4-6: “Pretty Woman”
Oct. 11-13: “The Maltese Falcon”
Oct. 18-20: “Psycho”
Oct. 25-27: “Young Frankenstein”
Dive-In Movies at The Pearl Hotel
The Pearl Hotel offers free screenings of films from the hotel’s private library collection. The movies are shown on a 10-by-13-foot projection screen that overlooks the vintage oyster-shaped swimming pool. Movies are screened Wednesdays at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted. 1410 Rosecrans St., Point Loma. thepearlsd.com
June 13: “Grease”
June 20: “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”
June 27: “Space Balls”
July 2: “Top Gun” (Monday viewing)
July 3: “Top Gun” (Tuesday viewing)
July 11: “The Sandlot”
July 17: “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (Tuesday viewing)
July 18: “Deadpool”
July 19: “Guardians of the Galaxy” (Thursday viewing)
July 25: “Jaws”
Aug. 1: “The Parent Trap”
Aug. 8: “Bridesmaids”
Aug. 15: “Point Break”
Aug. 22: “Wet Hot American Summer”
Aug. 29: “Anchorman”
Sept. 5: “Mean Girls”
Sept. 12: “Kill Bill: Vol 1”
Sept. 19: “Now and Then”
Sept. 26: “Roadhouse”
Liberty Station Outdoor Movies
This free outdoor film series spotlights the diverse arts and culture offerings at the Arts District at Liberty Station. Surprise pop-up performances or activities along with curated shorts preceding the film. North Promenade, 2848 Dewey Road, San Diego. Movies are screened the second Saturday of every month through October. Screenings start at sunset. libertystation.com/events/liberty-station-outdoor-movies
June 9: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”
July 14: “Wonder Woman”
Aug. 11: “Loving Vincent”
Sept. 8: “A Wrinkle in Time”
Oct. 13: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
Little Italy Summer Film Festival
Is your Italian a little rusty? That’s OK because this summer festival screens movies (with English subtitles) 8 p.m. every Saturday night through August. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for CineCaffe. Movie trailers are available on the website if you want a sneak peek. Amici Park Amphitheater, State and Date streets, Little Italy. There is a $5 suggested donation. cinemalittleitaly.com
June 23: “Let Yourself Go”
June 30: “Sea Dreaming Girls”
July 7: “Blesssed Ignorance”
July 14: “Opposites Attract”
July 21: “Umberto D”
July 28: “At War For Love”
Aug. 4: “Last Prosecco”
Aug. 11: “Friends By Chance”
Aug. 18: “Holding Hands”
Aug. 25: “It’s The Law”
Movies & More by the Lake
Bring a picnic basket, a blanket or lawn chair and find a choice spot to nestle with family and friends at this scenic venue. Along with the screening, there’s also food trucks, snack bar and family-friendly activities starting at 6 p.m. North Lake 5 Events Area, Santee Lakes, 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee. Movies are free and start at dusk on Fridays. Parking is $10 per carload. santeelakes.com
June 22: “Lego Batman”
July 13: “Moana”
Aug. 10: “Coco”
Movies on the Beach
The Hotel Del’s beachfront property is transformed into a theater under the stars, screening family movies and cult classics, Fridays through Sept. 1. Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado. General admission is free. Doors open at 7 p.m., with movies at 8 p.m. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Reserved VIP seating is available for $20 per chair online, at the event or by calling (619) 522-8490. hoteldel.com/events
June 9: “Nacho Libre”
June 16: “The Lion King”
June 30: “Top Gun”
July 7: “The Lego Ninjago Movie
July 14: “Coco”
July 21: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
July 28: “Men in Black”
Aug. 4: “Aladdin”
Aug. 11: “Lilo & Stitch”
Aug. 25: “Jumanji” (1995)
Sept. 1: “The Wizard of Oz”
Rooftop Cinema Club
San Diego’s newest outdoor movie venue opened just a few weeks ago, and its summer schedule is jam-packed with hits and classics. The roof and box office opens at 6:30 p.m. every night prior to the movie, with screenings at 7:45 p.m. or 8 p.m. depending on movie selection. Tickets are $17, $20 or $24. Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Place, San Diego. rooftopcinemaclub.com
June 8: “Grease”
June 9: “The Greatest Showman”
June 12: “Rushmore”
June 13: “The Sandlot”
June 14: “Call Me By Your Name”
June 15: Pretty in Pink”
June 16: “Get Out”
June 19: “Clueless”
June 20: “Selena”
June 21: “Hocus Pocus”
June 22: “Mean Girls”
June 23: “Isle of Dogs”
June 26: “The Big Lebowski”
June 27: “Coco”
June 28: “Bring It On”
June 30: “Cocktail”
July 3: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
July 7: “The Greatest Showman”
July 10: “Stand and Deliver”
July 11: “Lady Bird”
Screen on the Green
Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and have a picnic under the stars at one or all of these free screenings beginning in August. Each film is inspired by permanent collections currently on display at the San Diego Museum of Art. Botanical Garden Lawn east of the San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Movies are free and start at sundown (approximately 8 p.m.). sdmart.org
Aug. 2: “The Lunchbox”
Aug. 2: “Original Copy”
Aug. 16: “The Music Room”
Aug. 23: “Nil Battey Sannata”
Aug. 30: “Paheli”
Stone Liberty Station Movie Nights
Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy a cold brew and great cinema under a star-filled sky. Space is choice, so be sure to arrive by 5 p.m. to pick out a prime spot. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, 2816 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego. Movies are screened on its outdoor cinema area every Tuesday through August. Screenings start 15 minutes after sunset. stonebrewing.com/event-category-movie-nights
June 12: “The Naked Gun”
June 19: “Zombieland”
June 26: “The Three Amigos”
July 3: “Super Troopers”
July 10: “My Cousin Vinny”
July 17: “Clerks”
July 24: “The Bourne Identity”
July 31: “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
Aug. 7: “Coming to America”
Aug. 14: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”
Aug. 21: “The Dark Knight”
Aug. 28: “The Princess Bride”
Street Food Cinema
Street Food Cinema, presented by The Boulevard, returns for its third season featuring gourmet food trucks and music performances. Watch or play a movie-themed game right before the movie at various outdoor locations. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m., movies start at 8:30 p.m. (8 p.m. in September and October). The Boulevard Center, 2855 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. $6-$19 in advance; $6-$22 at the door; children 5 and under are free. There are limited tickets available on the day of the showing. Sold out events will be announced on Facebook and Twitter. streetfoodcinema.com
June 16: “Spice World”
July 14: “Mean Girls”
July 28: “The Goonies”
Aug. 11: “The Sandlot”
Aug. 25: “Selena”
Sept. 8: “Back to the Future”
Oct. 20: “Coco”
Summer Movies in the Park
All movies are free and begin approximately 15 minutes after sunset. Check the schedule to see what time sunset is on the date of the event you plan on attending. Bring a sweater or light jacket. It can get chilly when the sun goes down. Various locations throughout San Diego County. The film series runs through Oct. 27 and is screened every Friday and Saturday. For a complete movie list, visit summermoviesinthepark.com
July 7: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Aug. 24: “Ferdinand”
Sept. 15: “Thor: Ragnarok”
Oct. 13: “Hotel Transylvania 2”
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